Apparatus for lining walls of shafts, caissons, and the like



Sept 10, 1929. ,J. M. LEIGHTON APPARATUS FOR LINING WALLS OF SHAFTS, QAISSONS, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 15, 1928 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

JOHN MURRAY LEIGHTON, or BELFAST, IRELAND.

APPARATUS FOR am newnnnsor sHAr'rs, cAIssoNs, nn THE LIK Application filed August 15, 1928, Serial No. 299,712, and in Great Britain September 15, 1927.

This invention relates to an improved method of sinking the lining walls of shafts, caissons, hollow piers, piles and the like.

According to this invention, the structure, or article to be sunk is suspended, or connected to, members capable of suspending it, whereby greater regularity of sinking is obtained and whereby the rateiofsinking canbe controlled, the suspension members being preferably adjustable andalsopreferably provided with means for indicating the tension on the suspension members. The essential feature of this method is that the sinking should be continuous to avoid the necessity of overcoming the inertia of a large mass, which has come to rest, in order to set it in motion again, and also to maintain the planes of cleavage between the earth and the moving lining. The clearance cut in the soil below the end of the shaft lining will be such that in the event of any obstacle being encountered which may require special means for its removal the rate of sinking may be slowed up by control of the suspending members to such extent as may be necessary to permlt the removal of such obstacle and the resumption of the ordinary ex 'cavating methods without the sinking being brought to an entire standstill. Preferably a series of trestles, or the like, would be erect ed round the shaft with suitable arrangements for suspending and lowering the shaft lining, or other structure, or article. For convenience, all the different structures and articles which might be included under his invention will be hereinafter referred to sim ply as, shaft lining, whichis one example of a structure to be sunk in accordance with the invention. The number of suspension members connected wlth the trestles willbe such that any one may be temporarily'disconnect pension members will bear such proportion to-thetotal weight'of the completed shaft llning as will represent, when the suspending members are lowered, a material addition to the load tending to sink the shaft lining and instantly applicable by lowering the suspension members. I g i The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings whereon is shown, by way of exainpleonly, a diagrammatic representationof the sinking of ashaft lining in accordance with the invention. I I 4 Referring'to the drawings I In czirryingout the inventionin accordance with the example shown on the drawings, the structure, or article to be sunk,'in this example the circular shaft lining l, is suspended from a plurality of trestles 2 arranged at suitable intervals around the shaft and suitably anchored to thepground. 'In the examples shown, the trestle 2 is anchored to a concrete foundationBQ The shaft lining l is suspended from the trestles 2 by means of a screw threaded suspension member 4- which also serves, when required, as a pressure memher. The suspensionniember 4 is connected to the trestle 2 by a member 5 pivoted to the trestle at, 5 andhaving a hole 5" through which the suspension or pressure member 4 passes freely, a but 6 being placed onthe screw threaded suspension, or pressure incmber above the member 5 and a nut 7 placed on the screw suspension, or pressure member 4 below the member 5. An extension or arm 5 of the member 5 is connected with two ten sion and pressure meters 8 and 8 of any known and suitable type. The space 2 in the trestle 2 is adapted to receive loading weights when required. The number of trestles 2 would be such that any one may be tempora be of suflicient strength safely to support the full weight of the first or several sections of the shaftlining as previously mentioned. Inoperation, in the case of sinking a circular shaft lining 1, the first section 1 is prefersinking of the lining.

with the trestles 2. Sinking is then com menced and is carried on continuously until the shaft lining 1 has reached the desired depth. The ground within the shaft lining 1 may be excavated by any desired means, and

the clearance cut in the soil below the bottom section 1 of the shaft lining (as indicated at 9) will be suchthat in the event of any obstacle being encountered and having to be re moved, the rate of sinking of the shaft lining 1 may, by control of the suspension members 4, be slowed-up thereby to such an extent asto allow of the removal of the obstruction and the resumption of ordinary excavating meth ods without thesinking of the shaft lining being brought entirely to a standstill. As the shaft lining 1 sinks, section 1* as shownpwill be bolted on top of the first section 1 and so, on until the entire shaft has been sunk to the required depth. As the shaft lining sinks there will be friction set up between the earth and the outer surface of the lining and this will react on the suspension member 4 causing it. in turn to react on the pivoted member 5 so that thelatter, by means of the tensionand pressure meters 8, 8 will indicate the extent by which skin friction between the outer Wall of the linin'gand the earth isretarding the When a point is reached, indicated on the tension and pressure meters, at which skin friction must be reduced'to prevent the-sinking of the lining being stopped, :then lubricating .material, for example water, .grease or soft soap, or the like, may be forced through holes Pprovided in the lining andprovided with screw plugs, or the like, which; are removable at will. By this means a film of lubricant may be introduced between the earth and the external surface of'the shaftglining. The use of the lubricant. may beregulated as observation of the tension andpressure meters indicates the necessityfor greateror less lubrication. The tension meter'8 will come intoaction to indicate tension when the weight of the lining is being supported bythe trestle. and the lining is sinking by its own weight without the addition of pressure. When the lining 1s slowed up. to such an extent that pressure must be. applied, and thetrestle has to be used forthis purpose,"through themedium of the member 5..and pressure member eat-hen the nut 7 will be operated. and, as required, addi-' tional Weight may be given to the trestle by loading same with loading material or other ballast, for example stories 10 as. shown. When the lining is being lowered withoutthe application of additional pressure, the nut 6 will be used. In. addition, or as an alterna: tive, co-the application of pressure, weight may be applied to the shaft lining in the usual manner in order to maintain the desired continuous sinking. Such added weight would only be sufficient to restore the strain on the suspension members 4 to normal and would be very much less than, that required to set the shaft liningin mot-ion again if it had been permitted'to come entirely to rest. It will be understood that the simple pressure means shown on the drawings is merely by way of example and diagrammatic. Pressure may be applied to the pressure, member 4 by screw, hydraulic or any other known and suitable means. V

WVhen it is desirable (after the lining has been sunk to the required depth to restore the full frictional grip of the earth on the shaftlining, then the lubricant used may be onewhich is soluble in Water and by. applying waterthrough thehole 1., the lubricant may be washed away. Cement grout may then be forced through the holes, 1 and setting to the external wall of the lining and filling up cavities inthesoil, willfully restore the frictional grip of the earth ,onthe shaft linmg. I e

. The method of. sinking a shaftlining, or any other structure, as .hereinbefore described, maybe employed tosink-same into the ground below watersandin such cases the trestles 2 may be carried on piles, or the like.

Where water is permitted to rise inside the shaft, pipes may be carried up from the holes 1 before they-are submerged so thatlubrication may be appliedat any. desired point.

I claim 1. Apparatus for sinkingasliaft lining into position comprising, supporting :tres- ,tles,.a suspension member carried by each trestle, means connecting each suspension member tolthe shaft lining, means whereby tension or pressure can be applied to-reach suspension member so as to regulate thesinking operation and means whereby the tension or pressure on GZZCh-SHSPQHSlOHlIHQmbGI' isindicated.

2. Apparatus for sinking a shaft lining into the ground comprising, in combination,

supporting trestles, screwed members i for, the

lining, a pivoted member on each trestle,

means connecting each suspension member to thelining and to a pivotal member, meters carried by each trestleand connected to a pi votal member whereby thetensionand pressure on eachscrewed member isindicated,- and screw nuts on each screwed member whereby tension or pressurewcan be applied thereto so as to regulate thesinking operation.

In testimony whereofl-affix mysignature.

JOHNMURRAY LEIGHTON. 

